Dr. Frank King graduated from Eastern with a BA in Secondary Social Studies Education/History, and earned his PhD from Washington State University in American Studies. As an EWU McNair scholar, he conducted his McNair research internship with faculty mentor, Dr. Scott Finnie, completing a paper titled “The Battle of Adowa and Its Connection to Pan-Afrocentricity.” At WSU, he continued to explore Afrocentrism, with doctoral research focused on how Afrocentric concepts within Hip Hop culture can be used to engage, empower and liberate.
As Associate Professor and the Program Coordinator for Ethnic Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, he teaches intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and religion. With areas of specialization in Hip Hop Pedagogy, The Prison Industrial Complex, Afrocentric Philosophy, and African American History, he is currently working on several projects that look at the political economy of Hip Hop, Hip Hop as pedagogy, and Juvenile rehabilitation.
In addition to his faculty work, in his new appointment as Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as the Special Assistant to the Chief Diversity Office, Dr. King assists in building and developing support, community, and resources for faculty, staff and students to help in UW-Platteville’s call to action to ensure all students have substantial knowledge of issues revolving around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
As he works to develop programs to help increase cultural awareness on campus, he credits the EWU McNair program for giving him the support he needed to get him started on the path to where he is today. “Infinite gratitude,” he says about McNair. And we say in return: “Infinite gratitude to you too Dr. Frank King!” We need academics like you, who continue to apply their research, teaching and talents to working towards a more just and equitable world!
Thank you!!!
UW-Platteville could not be luckier to have Dr.King as a part of our campus community! He is instrumental in so much of our impactful work with students. However, one of the most special projects is helping the campus to write a McNair grant proposal to submit in the upcoming competition.